Sports

Relationship Matters

Opinion

2014 World Cup: Super Eagles Camp Divided

When the Super Eagles step out against Bosnia-Herzegovina tomorrow in a make or mar encounter which would determine their stay in the Brazil 2014 World Cup, they may not be united. Sports Vanguard can reveal authoritatively that a deep-rooted animosity in the camp has finally torn the team into three camps with each camp commanding their own loyalists.

On one side of the camp are players who are loyal to skipper Joseph Yobo and who want him to make a record appearance for the Eagles after hitting 98 caps while the second group are loyalists to one of the assistant coaches of the team who has been described as very influential in the camp.

This group consists of players he was said to have influenced their selection.

They are alleged to be very bitter with Emmanuel Emenike who is the point-man of the Eagles. They alleged that Emenike has become swollen-headed, proud and arrogant and therefore have vowed to cut him to size by not giving him passes.

This could be attributed to the colourless outing of Emenike who before now was the engine room of the Eagles and contributed immensely to their winning of the African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The case of Osaze Odemwingie is a pathetic one. I learnt that Osaze is lonely in the midst of the camps as he is left alone to sulk Coach Stephen Keshi recent attack on him by saying that he did not play to instructions in the game against Iran.

On the contrary, however, it was Osaze who breathed life into the attack of the Eagles in that colourless goalless encounter.

A very dependable source in the camp described the situation as worrisome that such divisions exist in a team that everybody is looking forward to playing as a unit to beat Bosnia.

Though Coach Stephen Keshi could not be reached for comments, I gathered that he had been indifferent to the goings-on in camp.

Nigeria have now failed to win any of their last nine matches, extending the longest winless run by any team taking part in this tournament.